Golf tee



May 23, 1939. T. A. HANSEN GOLFk TEE Filed March 1e, 195e Patented May 23, 1939 .UNITED l STATES GoLF TEE Thomas A. Hansen, Hartford, Conn. Appucation March 16, 193s, serial No. 196,251

1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in golf tees.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a golf tee of the captive type wherein the tee designed for the support of a golf ball has one end of a cord anchored therewith the other end of the cord carried by a ground engaging spike to retain the tee captive even though the same should be struck by a golf club.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf tee of the foregoing character wherein the cord that connects the golf tee to the ground anchor spike is preferably of an elastic character and carries a tubular member for the reception of l5 the pointed end of the ground spike whereby the golf tee may be attached toa body strap of a golf bag and locked thereto by having the elastic cord engaged with the golf bag strap at a point between the ground anchor spike and sleeve with the pointed end of the spike received in the sleeve to lock the tee to the golf bag as well as preventing injury to the pointed end of the ground spike and for protecting the user from injury.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the nvention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the complete device comprising the golf tee, the ground anchor spike and the cord connection therebetween;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the golf tee showing a knotted end of the cord confined therein;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the head of the ground anchor spike;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly in section, showing the ground anchor spike and head therefor of integral construction;

and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a golf bag showing the golf tee with its ground anchor spike and connecting cord attached to the golf bag.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, it being noted that the golf tee and the head of the ground anchor spike may be constructed of any material desired, the golf tee I0 is of the usual configuration, being of hollow 65 construction and designed to provide a relatively wide ground engaging face II and an upper socketed end I2 for the support of a golf ball B. A side wall of the hollow golf tee I0 is provided with an opening through which one end of an elastic cord I3 is passed with the end of the cord 5 within the hollow tee knotted as at I4 and engaged with a washer I5 placed thereon to protect the walls of the opening in the golf tee and for retaining the elastic cord I3 engaged with the tee I0. 10

The ground anchor spike as shown in Figs. 1,

3 and 4, include a head of substantially T- shape including a depending shank I6 and a cross-head I1, the lower end of the shank I6 having the upper threaded end I8 of a ground 15 anchor spike I9 threaded therein, the lower pointed end 2D of the shank I9 being illustrated in Figure 1 as pressed into the ground. TheI cross-head I1 of the spike head is provided with a lateral opening 22 above the shank I6 and an 20 end opening passage 23 in one leg of the crosshead communicating with the opening 22. The other end of the elastic cord I3 is extended through the passage 23 with the terminal end thereof positioned in the lateral opening 22 and 25 knotted as at 24 for retaining the spike head engaged with the elastic cord I3.

As shown more clearly in Figure 1, a knob or abutment 25 is anchored to the elastic cord I3 and an elastic collar 2G lis slidably mounted upon 30 the cord I3 between the spike head and said abutment.

In the use of the golf tee, the same is placed as illustrated in Figure 1, the tee I0 being placed upon the ground line 2| while the spike I9 is 35 driven into the ground 2|. The elastic cord I3 retains the golf tee I0 captive with respect to the ground anchor spike and eliminates loss thereof. When it is desired to carry the golf tee from one driving point to another point, the same may be 40 attached to the golf bag 21 as shown in Figure 6, the ground anchor spike and its head being passed between the golf bag 21 and a circumferential strap 28 carried thereby with the pointed end 20 of the ground anchor spike I9 pressed 45 or moved into the elastic collar 26 for locking the golf tee to the bag 21, protecting the point 20 of the ground anchor spike as well as preventing injury to the user of the same.

In the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 5, 50 the ground anchor spike I9a is formed integral with the shank I6a of the spike head that is otherwise of the same construction as the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and includes a cross-head Ila having a side opening 22a and a passage 23a through one side of the cross-head I 1a. i

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent, and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

In a golf tee of the character described, a tee of hollow construction having a side opening, a ground anchor spike having a T-head with a lateral opening therein and a passage through one side of the head entering said lateral opening, an elastic cord having one end passed through said side opening in the tee and knotted for retention therein, the other end of the cord passed through the passage in the T-head of the spike and having a knotted end retained in the opening in the spike head and a collar on the 5 

